Series II. John Marin

This series consists primarily of photographs and published writings regarding the life and work of John Marin. Norman served as editor of "The Selected Writings of John Marin" (1949) and wrote the book's introduction. While some of this material may pertain to that publication, Norman apparently compiled the bulk of it for a later, perhaps more in-depth, profile of the artist. Her collection of writings by others about Marin include magazine articles, Mackinley Helm's book (1948), newspaper clippings, and numerous exhibition catalogues, some of which were held posthumously. Norman's own writings include a 1937 article about Marin and Alfred Stieglitz, and another reminiscing about Marin published after his death in 1953. Portions of a transcript to the 1954 radio interview of Norman, Edward Steichen, and David Friendenthal offer additional reminiscences. These writings are filed by their respective document format. The "photographs" files include a number of images of Marin. Based on the notations penciled on the verso, Norman took most of the informal portraits of Marin as well as of his family and home. There are also a significant number of "object" photographs of Marin's works. These are mounted on paper annotated with the title of the work and other information, perhaps intended as printer's instructions. Also included are most of the photographic illustrations to "Selected Writings."

"Correspondence" by Marin, most of which is in photocopy or typescript form, includes letters to family, colleagues and Norman. According to a folder notation, the original letters Marin wrote to Norman are at Yale. The few originals here include what appear to be Marin's drafts of letters to Alfred Barr and A. Conger Goodyear, MoMA's director and president, respectively. The museum held a Marin exhibition in 1936, for which the artist expressed his thanks and pleasure to both men. There is also a file of correspondence to Norman from several individuals and institutions. While most pertain to her research of Marin, one letter written by his son in 1948 discusses plans for an exhibition of his father's work at An American Place, a year after Stieglitz's death. During the processing of this material, certain files were identified as "research." Included in this subset is an actual volume of "Selected Writings." Norman cut out almost half of the pages, making notations or deletions to many of the passages. The set of index cards appear to be how Norman chronologically recorded Marin's correspondents, their addresses, and the dates of his outgoing letters to each. Another research file contains what appear to be draft exhibition checklists. On a photocopy of one, Norman penciled in the date 1909 and marked the list as Marin's writing with additional remarks written by [Edward] Steichen. Based on the date, this list could refer to Marin's first one-man show organized by Steiglitz at his 291 Gallery in New York. This subset also includes some ephemera and notes Norman made about Marin's watercolors and a trip he made in 1951 to St. John in New Brunswick, Canada. Ending the series are a few of Marin's writings about Alfred Stieglitz, Arthur Carles and Ernest Haskel.